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Dirk Nowitzki would 'love' Carmelo Anthony on the Mavericks; Knicks want Patty Mills: Around the NBA

NBA: Spurs v Mavericks Game 4

Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) takes the court for Game 4 against the San Antonio Spurs in an NBA Western Conference quarterfinal at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Monday, April 28, 2014. (Ron Jenkins/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)
(Ron Jenkins)

• Carmelo Anthony, expected to become an unrestricted free agent after opting out of the final year of his deal with the Knicks, reportedly has a short list of teams he'll consider joining, which includes the Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks. Fellow free agent Dirk Nowitzki, who is expected to re-sign with Dallas, said in a recent radio interview he would love to have Melo on the Mavs:

Dallas is projected to have as much as $30 million in cap space this summer.

Nowitzki, who led the Mavericks to an NBA title in 2011, said that he would have no problem coexisting with Anthony, the No. 2 scorer in the NBA last season.

"Listen, I think I've showed over my 16 years that I can play with anybody," Nowitzki said. "The only tough season I think we've had is when we had [Antawn] Jamison and Antoine Walker and myself who are all three kind of the same four-men, but other than that I think I've shown over my career that I can play with anybody. I'll adjust, whether I have to get out of the way or go to the corner more, post up, pass. I'll do whatever, really, that needs to be done out there to win or for this franchise to be a winner."

Carmelo Anthony is still Plan A as the Bulls and the rest of the NBA await to see if the Knicks forward will opt out of his contract. But the Bulls are more active in their pursuit of Kevin Love than initially rumored. Also, don't rule out LeBron James coming into play again if the four-time MVP opts out of his deal.

• In his latest mock draft for ESPN.com (Insider), Chad Ford writes that the Boston Celctics are also active in trying to pry Love from Minnesota:

I continue to get strong signals that the Celtics are trying hard to use pick No. 6 and 17 along with future No. 1s and young players such as Jared Sullinger or Kelly Olynyk to persuade the Minnesota Timberwolves to trade them Kevin Love. One source close to the Wolves said that while Flip Saunders does not want to trade Love, he realizes the team likely will lose him this summer and the package the Celtics are offering is probably the best he's going to get. Given the strength of the draft, picks 6, 13 and 17 could land them three young starters to help them rebuild their roster quickly.

• The Houston Rockets, still stinging from their first-round loss to the Blazers, are hoping to bolster the coaching end of their bench by adding former Memphis Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins, reports Marc Stein of ESPN.com. But ...

However, sources tell ESPN.com that the Rockets recognize it will be difficult to land Hollins, who continues to covet his next opportunity as a head coach after his exit in Memphis following the 2013 playoffs.

• The New York Knicks reportedly have interest in San Antonio Spurs backup point guard and free-agent-to-be Patty Mills – he of 4 for 4 three-pointers in the third quarter alone in the finale of the NBA Finals – as their future starting point guard, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post:

According to a source, Mills would be intrigued by the idea of playing in New York and increasing his role from Tony Parker's backup to a more marquee role.

"New York is definitely a city Mills would want to play in,'' the source said. "He has that personality.''

Sources have confirmed a report that the Sixers have inquired about trading for the Cavs' first pick. The Sixers reportedly aren't willing to give up their third and 10th picks in exchange for the No. 1 selection. They will, however, possibly give up a combination of the No. 3 pick and power forward Thaddeus Young, according to ESPN.com.